My Count Shows 102 Unique and Counted Comments, So THREE Copies of the d30 Sandbox Companion to Give Away - Check HERE to See if You Got One...

Thanks to the generosity of New Big Dragon Games and 102 amazing blog readers that took the time to comment on the previous post, we have three copies of the d30 Sandbox Companion to give away.

As i do not own a d102. I will use Roll20 to roll some virtual d102s

Brutorz Bill, Fred Bednarski and  DacholaEtecoon - congrats!

Use the messaging box on the right side of this page to get me your email, which I will pass on to New Big Dragon Games to get you your PDF copies of the d30 Sandbox Companion.

The rest of you, what are you waiting for? Time to get a copy for yourself ;)

Mini Review - D30 Sandbox Companion

As the OSR Christmas Giveaway slows down (there is more to come) I'm in the process of opening up my Swords & Wizardry campaign to more of a sandbox style campaign, which was the goal from the get go. With the main party now averaging 3rd level, they can spread their wings a bit without the constant fear of a TPK in the wilderness.

The timing of the release of the D30 Sandbox Companion couldn't be better. The amount of inspiration squeezed into 50 some odd pages of charts and tables has left me in awe. I'm going to come right out and say that at $4.95, it is a steal.

It's made for you to print out the pages as they are needed, as some are laid out in standard portrait orientation and others are laid out in landscape.

Need hexes to map with? Got you covered?

Sample map icons? Yep

Hex Crawl Worksheet? It's there (and will be put to good use, shortly)

NPC record sheet? Aye

Tables for sandbox style location, inspiration, NPC details (and details and details), recruitment, sages, Taverns (need to add a Tenkar's Tavern to the table ;), shops, settlements, heraldry (worth 5 bucks on its own, weather, encounters, places cults and more and more and...

Holy shit! In the right hands, this and some of +Dyson Logos or +matt jackson 's maps and you can have a damn near spontaneous campaign at your finger tips!

Best $4.95 an Old School DM could spend in 2014 on gaming. To prove it, I'm going to buy 1 copy of the D30 Sandbox Companion for a random commenter on this post. Open for comments for 24 hrs after this post goes up. Must have an OBS / RPGNow account to receive the gift. Or just buy yourself a copy. It is THAT good.

EDIT - New Big Dragon says:

Hey Erik, how about in appreciation for the coverage, you don't buy the PDF out of your own pocket, and I'll kick in some PDF copies: 1 copy if you have 49 or fewer unique commenters, 2 copies if you have 50-99 unique commenters, and 3 PDFs total if you hit 100 or more unique commenters (not including me).

From the blurb:

d30-based Mechanics, Charts, and Tables to Support and Simplify the Role of the DM

The d30 Sandbox Companion is the ideal right-hand man for the DM who wants to avoid his sandbox campaign running him. Whether starting an adventure from scratch, filling in the details of a campaign world, or just struggling to keep up with players, this compilation of d30-based mechanics, charts, and tables will support and simplify the role of the DM/GM at the tabletop. Inside these 30-something pages you’ll find a host of d30-based sandbox resources.

While the majority of the charts and tables in the book are generic to wilderness and settlement settings, NPC tables include details for 1e and BX comparable games, including Oe D&D, 1e AD&D, BX D&D, Swords & Wizardry, OSRIC, and Labyrinth Lord.

Inside these 30-something pages you’ll find
a host of d30-based sandbox resources, including:

• a robust adventure generator that allows the DM flexibility to interpret its results, and to support existing campaigns

• wilderness tables for weather, off-course navigation, and foraging & hunting

• wilderness encounter tables for pilgrims, road travel, and castle/keep/stronghold patrols

• location generators for ruins, temples, magical places, castles/keeps/strongholds, and settlements of all sizes

• settlement background generators, including: government, economy, settlement issues, city guards & watches, availability of shops & suppliers, shop stock and shopkeeper information, and robust tavern information generators

• super-quick classed character generation, including: class, level, race, sex, attributes, and inventory

• an extensive set of NPC tools for both classed and non-classed characters, including: occupations, physical traits, persona & behavior, background, eccentricities, talents, and languages

• fast generation of complete sage information

• a system for quick-and-easy recruitment of henchmen & hirelings, including their reactions, and loyalty

+ a wilderness mapping key, a Hex Crawl Worksheet, a Settlement Worksheet, and an NPC Record Sheet to assist DMs in fleshing out their campaign worlds

And much more!

Looking For a Good One on One Adventure...

A couple of years ago, I ran my wife through a T&T solo adventure that I modified on the fly to run "One on One".

Now, I'm looking to do something similar with here, but using an OSR ruleset like S&W.

Any good ideas on an adventure or adventures I should be looking at?

What Gaming Magazines / Zines Do You Read, Past or Present?

Back in the 80's and 90's, when RPG's ruled the world, it seemed like every publisher and their mother was putting out an RPG magazine.

TSR had Dragon and Dungeon. Games Workshop had White Dwarf. SJG had The Space Gamer and the Fantasy Gamer. Avalon Hill had Heroes (or some such). Different Worlds changed hands a few times if I recall. Shadis was a breath of fresh air that spawned KotDT. Journal of the Traveler Aids Society was there for the Traveller players. I'm sure I'm missing one or two.

All of the above are gone (White Dwarf hasn't supported RPG's in decades and Dragon and Dungeon haven't been in a print format in years).

So, the gaming magazine is effectively dead, replaces in current days by gaming 'zine - self published magazines with little corporate influence behind them. Published less for profit then for love of the game, or at least, that's how I see it.

What gaming magazines did you read back in the day and what gaming 'zines do you read these days?

My New Year's Gaming Resolution Is...

no figging idea!

Seriously.

I have a steady Saturday Night group and a once a month Friday Night group and occasional extra game sessions during the month - heck, I'm gaming more than I have had a chance to at any point in the past 20 years.

Wait, I do have a New Year's resolution - 2014 will be the year I make it to NTRPG Con. +Harley Stroh should be happy with that ;)

So, any New Year's gaming resolutions from the patrons of this fine Tavern? ;)

Kicking Off the New Year With Some Homebrewing

My wife and I kicked off the New Year with some home brewing - pictured is 23 liters of what will soon be Cooper's Lager.

The process made me think about how home brewing beer and home brewing a RPG campaign have similarities on many levels (which will wait for a later post) but not the least of which is, no matter how much of the work is done for you up front, the end result is always at least slightly different for everyone and has their stamp on it.

Much like gaming in my past, I stepped away from home brewing due to lack of time and space - we've had renovations going on, and finding a safe place for nearly 30 25 oz bottles to carbonate and condition for weeks or months just wasn't available. Now, it is.

Hopefully it's all ready in time for the Super Bowl ;)

They Became Flesh: A game of God, Humanity, and the Fallen - Has it Gotten Up Yet?

Safe to assume at 2 years late YET in the retail market, that a good portion of supporters are screwed?

Anyone have more info on this nightmare? (so glad I missed this one when it was live)

Giving Thanks as One Year Ends and a New One Begins

I really what to thank everyone that has made my gaming, and by extension, my hobby as an OSR gamer and blogger, as awesome as it has been. I'm sure I'll miss some folks as my list is huge and my memory is often weak, but here it goes:

To my Saturday Night Hangout gaming group - some of us been doing this going on nearly 2 years and it feels like I've known them all damn near 20. Judging from the amount of bullshitting that goes on before, during and after sessions, we've become friends first and and gamers second. A finer group of friends would be hard to find +Greg Christopher , +Joe D , +Keith J Davies , +Craig Brasco , +David Przybyla , +Michael Garcia and all the others that have blessed us with their gaming presence (and who could forget the "B Team"? Once a month Friday Night gaming has arrived ;)

To my online support network of sorts - +Tim Shorts , +matt jackson , +Mark Hassman , +James Aulds , +Christian Walker , +Joseph Bloch , +Jason Paul McCartan and many others - you are my sounding boards and my friends. I'll think of you as I home brew 5 gallons of beer tomorrow :)

To some of the most generous publishers and creators in our hobby - +Purple Duck Games , +Pete Spahn , +Dak Ultimak , +Dyson Logos , +Rafael Chandler , +Zach Glazar , +Zzarchov Kowolski , +Mark Chance , +Paul Wolfe , +Jon Marr , +John Stater,  +Johua De Santo , +Stuart Keating and others I'm sure to have missed - the Tavern and it's patrons would be much poorer if not for your generosity and kindness.

Oh, and of course, my wife Rachel, who was instrumental in getting my ass back into the gaming hobby and will be assisting with the beer brewing tomorrow. I love ya lass :)

I'd buy everyone a beer if I could (based on location, that offer is limited to the NYC Metropolitan Area, immediate suburbs and the Pocono Mountains of N/E PA, depending on scheduling and the like and all other sorts of restrictions may apply ;)

In the meantime, we're still waiting on folks to claim all the wonderful gifts that were gifted on days 12 and 13 of the OSR Christmas. Check to see if you've won. There will be more gifts a gifting shortly, but I'm waiting on something to make it even more special ;)

Kickstarter - Playing the "It's Not a Pre-Order" Card

"It wasn't a pre-order. You were funding a process..."

I've heard this, or a variation if it, numerous times in regards to Kickstarters. I've NEVER seen it on a page requesting funding support when a Kickstarter goes live. No, those pages look like... what's it called? Oh yeah, a pre-order page! Hey, that shit looks cool and it says it will ship in six months!

You see, Kickstarter is a "pre-order system" when project creators want YOUR money, but you were "funding a process" when folks start asking, usually after months or years after a project's due date, for THEIR stuff that they paid THEIR money for.

I've never seen an on-time Kickstarter project announce "We are shipping products from the process you funded that wasn't a pre-order."

It only comes up when there are problems with a Kickstarter, and it reminds me of someone playing a "Get Out of Jail" card in Monopoly. "Phew! Good thing Kickstarter is a process and not a pre-order, or I might be held accountable!"

If you feel a need to play the "Kickstarter is a process and not a pre-order" card, don't bother running another Kickstarter project.

Seriously.

If folks think I'm a pain in the ass now, just wait until the Mythus & Marigolds Monstrous Menagerie get's announced for "2e as it Was Meant to Be!" on Kickstarter in 2014...

Myth & Magic Player's Guide Magically Missing for Majority of Kickstarter Backers

The above are the latest comments from the Myth & Magic Player's Guide Kickstarter. I've edited out names of the backers, as Tom has been known to have a vindictive streak against those that call him out on his "mistruths" (Tom is a lawyer, so we have to be careful. Besides, Tom was nice enough to post my full name and shipping info in the comments section when I called him out earlier. Then he shipped my book - but apparently it was just to shut me up).

I'm really beginning to think that the Dark Side of Kickstarter is inhabited by Toms, Gareths and Mikes. The fact that Mike comes out as the lesser of three evils yet again is telling - I'd prefer a fool over a vindictive "mistruther" and a full of shit publisher.

All three seem to have figured out that if all you have are lies and half truths to give to your backers, you're better off hiding. Mikey figured that one out a bit quicker than the other two, and is the only one to come clean with his foolishness and failures. I'd actually have a drink with Mikey, so long as he paid for his own tab up front. I'm not THAT stupid ;)

Is This Thing On? Far West Kickstarter Goes Silent for Over a Month (And Where is the Digital Download?)

Haven't been following the Far West Kickstarter Saga? You've missed a lot.

It was due in the hands of backers in December of 2011, so in a few days it will be over 2 years late.

But hey, we still get promises like these:

From November 11th - "Popping in to let you know that we're chugging along -- I'm looking at digital delivery occurring late next week (which is a bit more on the "ish" side of "mid-month-ish" -- several reasons for that, including the upcoming holiday, for example)...We'll go to press two weeks after we deliver the digital version to you fine folks.  "

Or the last update from November 21st - "Completing the layout is taking me longer than I'd hoped for, due to some sort of virulent plague hitting the Skarka household. We will be ready to deliver the files to the printer (and the digital copies to you) in the next few days (emphasis totally mine) though -- hopefully this weekend, definitely before the US Thanksgiving holiday next week."

So, five weeks later is just like two years later - we still aint got shit. If I had a nickel from every empty promise during the production of this Kickstarter, I'd have made my money back. As it is, much like the Myth & Magic Player's Guide, at best this will go right to the gaming shelf. I doubt it will get read, let alone get played.

And here you thought Dwimmermount was late...

The Lucky Recipients of Day 13 of the OSR Christmas Giveaway Are...

Here's the list of the Day 13 of OSR Christmas Gift recipients (I'm still waiting on over half of the lucky folks from Day 12 to claim their goodies):


The Manor bundle of issues 1-5 in PDF, curtesy of +Tim Shorts goes to +Pete Spahn 

The Gnomes of Levenc goes to +Brett Slocum  and A Thousand Dead Babies goes to +Tim Shorts  (talk about your holiday cheer), curtesy of +Zzarchov Kowolski

A Complete 3 Volume Set of Adventures Dark & Deep goes to Vanguard, curtesy of +Joseph Bloch

Eldritch Witchery goes to +Dyson Logos and The Witch goes to Boric 
G , curtesy of +Timothy Brannan

Three copies of The Tomb of the Squonk and The Silent Army go to Jesse Rodriguez, +Sorcerer Blob  and +Joseph Bloch  curtesy of +Paul Wolfe

a $15 RPGNow Gift Certificate  goes to +Zach Glazar ,  curtesy of +Johua De Santo

Excellent Web-Series - Fallout: Nuka Break

It's rare that I write about any of the various web-series available on Youtube and the like that butt up against our hobby of roleplaying, but Fallout: Nuka Break is an exception. Very well done and certainly evokes the feel of the Fallout computer game series.

I just started season 2 after discovering season 1 last night. Good stuff!

Our Next DM - Ahsely

This Saturday and last we've been unable to game, what with the holidays and such. We need five to game (DM+4) and we've had four available this week and last.

I offered to have Ashley run a session or two, but she seems to favor Top Secret if I read that screen correctly, and no one wants to go there ;)

(I'll post the winners of OSR Christmas Day 13 when i get back home tomorrow)

Whisper & Venom Webstore Goes Live - Tell Them "Tenkar Sent Ya"

I received my Whisper & Venom boxed set from the W&V Kickstarter last Sunday (mail deleivery on a Sunday, go figure). I would have posted about it sooner,but there's this little thing known as 12 Days of OSR Christmas that was occupying much of my free time (still need to award Day 13 prizes - tomorrow morning probably).

In any case, +Zach Glazar has opened the Whisper & Venom webstore, where your can get your hands on an amazing "Old School" boxed set adventure / mini campaign setting if you missed the Kickstarter.

The boxed set comes in 2 flavors:

The Whisper & Venom Limited Edition Boxed set for $79.99 includes everything listed below -

-Signed Vellum Coversheet
-The Limited Edition Printings of both the Adventure Book (88 pp) and the Regional Setting Guide
-A set of 12 Color Monster Cards
-1 Dastardly Thopas figurine, 5 goblin figurines and a venomous attoral - all cast in old-school metal
-1 11 x 17 Two-Sided Cardstock Map of The Regional Map and The Outskirts of Whisper
-1 Dungeon Map Booklet
-1 Set of Chessex Dice

The Whisper & Venom Complete set goes for $199.99 and includes everything listed above PLUS - 

- the Giant 42 x 32 Regional Map (two are available that are limited signed copies) -Shipped Separately in a Heavy Duty Mailing Tube (not pictured) (we gave away one of these on the 12th Day of OSR Christmas)

- a folded 18 x 24 copy of the color regional map

- A Lesser Gnome Whisper & Venom T-Shirt – We will contact you for size- it is the highest quality Hanes t-shirt in white with the rear box art.

- A stitched Lesser Gnome Hat in Black (1 Available in White)

and the following figurines

-Thopas with Familiar

-Standalone Pixie

-Gauntswept Scavengers x2

-Restless Undead x2

-Malice Solid Form

-Malice Ethereal (Tinted Resin)

-Giant Cave Toad

-Monster Beetle

-Murkbeast

-Giant Spider

-Mistress of the Grove and Bear Companion

-Nexid Slaves x2

-Attoral x2

-Attoral Broodsource

and for a limited time, if you purchase the Whisper & Venom Complete set and tell Zach that Tenkar's Tavern sent you in the customer notes, you'll be entitled to an original piece of art by Lloyd Metcalf that was used in Whisper & Venom. That my friends, is fucking priceless.    

Can I "Axe You" a Question? ;)

I picked the above up earlier today at the Sugarmann's Indoor Flea Market in Eynon / Dickson City PA. It's a nice (and sharp) replica. I had to ask the vendor that sold it to be to find a bag or two to cover the axe head, as I didn't think I would be projecting the right image otherwise ;)

I also own an antique British Cavalry sword circa late 1840's from India, a large blunt dagger that could inflict a concussion, a replica of "Sting" and some large ass (and cheap) two handed sword.

So, do you own replica or antique weapons? If so, do you display them?

Looking for Alternatives to "By the Book" Level Drain

I'm using my time away from the hustle and bustle to brainstorm some possible adventure locations for my Swords & Wizardry Campaign. I've got an idea for an adventure that will feature some level draining undead, but I don't want to desiccate the party.

Some things to know:

- in the first adventure, my players / PCs inadvertently killed all of the heroes above 5th level within hundreds of miles. There is no one to cast Restoration for them.

- if they found a scroll of Restoration, it would be many levels above what they would normally hve access to.

- the party lacks a cleric (actually, both groups I'm running lack clerics - go figure). So undead will be even more dangerous than usual.

I've never liked level drain, either as a player or as a DM. I do like, however, the palatable fear it puts the players in.

So, have you swapped out level drain for other debilitating effects on your players? How has it worked in play?

Kickstarting a Free MicroGame -vs. Pirates Tabletop Micro Roleplaying Game by Phil Reed

Is this the same Phil Reed that had a daily email of RPG ideas and such a few years back? No idea, and I may be mis-remembering.

Actually, you are NOT kickstarting a free microgame, you are kickstarting the next game in a series of microgames - or something. vs. Pirates is it's name, Oh!

4 days left and I'm not sure it's going to hit goal. Not for lack of backers (53 at the moment) but the average per backer is only around 13 bucks each. $678 out of a $1500 goal.

This project doesn't need to work about stretch goals, it's needs are more basic. It needs to fund.

I'll watch this down to the wire...

8 Fine Readers are Receiving Gifts from the 12th Day of OSR Christmas - They Are...

With the help of Roll20, I was able to roll a random die larger than a d100 ;)

Eight times even...

So, here are the lucky Day 12 gift recipients. Packages going outside the states may require some postage help, as the US Postal Service hates you...

The signed Metamorphosis Alpha, courtesy of +Tim Snider , goes to Tareth Ravensword

The classic Boot Hill Boxed set goes to RJ Thompson (thanks to +Zach Glazar for this and the next 4 gifts)

Signed Box of the Pool of Radiance "Gold Box" computer game goes to Andrew Wurdam

The amazing signed and numbered map from the Whisper & Venom Kickstarter goes to Paul Schafer

The signed Jeff Dee art print goes to Stu Rat

The unsigned Jeff Dee print goes to +Dak Ultimak 

One signed copy (by Ken St Andre) of Dwarves & Dragons goes to Nathan Panke

The other signed copy goes to The Degenerate Elite (thanks go to your favorite bartender for these two)

Remember, nothing is getting mailed out for at least a week. OSR Santa has to return to the job that pays the bills and he is getting old and decrepit ;)

EDIT - use the Contact Vox on the right to get me your info (oops!)

OSR Santa Has Been Busy - Recipients for Days 12 and 13 Gifts to be Chosen Tonight

I know I said we'd have the gifts assigned last night, but between seeing the second part of The Hobbit (excellent movie depicting some alternate revisionist history of Tolkien's work, but I digress) and driving to the Poconos last night for the last part of my week of vacation, certain things didn't get accomplished as planned. Which is good if you haven't commented on one of the posts yet, as there is still time ;)

Things should settle down some time after dinner tonight, so I'll take care of the gifting then. Remember, little if anything will ship before next weekend, as Santa will be back at the job that earns him real money come Monday.

I have yet even more to give away, but I think I'll time that for New Year's Eve and New Years Day. Someone will get a decent DCC RPG starter, will the rulebook and some adventure, all in print. Remember to tip your mailman, as that sucker is heavy ;)

If I'm lucky, I may even have some gaming thoughts to post over the weekend ;)